On a crisp Saturday morning, dozens of volunteers connected with FBC-Mebane gather with rakes, shovels, and toolboxes in hand. The mission in this church volunteer opportunity is to meet practical needs right in our own community.
For more than two decades, Operation InAsMuch has mobilized volunteers to serve our neighbors in tangible, meaningful ways.
“We just go out into the community, we see what kind of needs there are, and we develop projects that we can do,” says David Faircloth, who coordinates the ministry. “These are projects that don’t take over three or four hours. It’s projects that maybe just laymen can do, where you don’t have to have a certain skillset to accomplish most of these things.”
Why Operation InAsMuch Matters
The heart behind Operation InAsMuch is meeting people where they are with compassion and kindness. Trimming bushes. Mowing yards. Fixing leaky faucets. The projects remind neighbors they’re seen and cared for.
“Sometimes there’s a widow who needs somebody to clean her gutters,” Faircloth adds. “Other times it’s mowing a yard because someone doesn’t have the financial means to hire someone to do it.”
Faircloth has seen countless needs met through Operation InAsMuch. One team repaired a bathroom floor that was about to cave in. Another replaced a leaking garbage disposal. Other volunteers have installed storm doors, patched broken windows, and even built stands to hold heavy air conditioners for elderly residents.
“It’s basically just looking at the needs of people and trying to meet them, and then sharing the gospel along the way,” Faircloth says. “We don’t go blazing in there with our Bibles. We show the compassion that Jesus had, and we just show them we love them. And then a lot of times they’ll ask, ‘Why are you here? Why are you doing this?’ And we say, ‘Because Jesus loves us, and He loves you.’”
Beyond repairs, another group makes visits to homebound members and nursing homes, delivering small baskets of goodies and spending time in conversation. “It’s just to let them know, ‘Hey, we haven’t forgotten about you, and you’re still part of our church,’” Faircloth explains.
Lasting Impact of Church Volunteer Opportunities
Operation InAsMuch has been held twice a year—spring and fall—for more than 20 years, with anywhere from 50 to 100 volunteers joining in each time. Even when numbers fluctuate, the ministry continues to leave a mark.
One story in particular keeps Faircloth going. In 2024, volunteers partnered with another church to build a ramp for a woman recovering from health issues. Weeks later, she was in a serious car accident and spent months in rehab.
“She texted me and told me she gave her life to the Lord,” Faircloth shares. “Whenever we go to do these things, we take Bibles with us. The volunteers sign the Bible and present it to the person. That’s what makes me keep going. That’s exactly what it’s all about—the love of Christ.”
How to Get Involved in Operation InAsMuch
Perhaps the best part about Operation InAsMuch is that anyone can join in.
“You don’t have to have any special skillset, except you want to serve people,” says Faircloth. “Even kids come and help under their parents’ direction. We’ll pair you up with someone, give you a rake, and say, ‘Can you rake this little piece of ground right here?’”
Faircloth coordinates the effort along with assistant coordinator Mike Garrison. Sign-up sheets are posted weeks in advance of each event, allowing people to choose the kinds of tasks they’d like to help with—yardwork, painting, small repairs, visitation, and more.
And for those who want to stay involved year-round, the “Handyman Ministry” continues in between Operation InAsMuch weekends. This smaller team responds to urgent needs like installing grab bars, repairing steps, or building ramps whenever waiting six months just isn’t possible.
As Faircloth sees it, the ministry is less about the size of the job and more about the love behind it. “Someone may not be able to afford to do it, or they can’t find anybody to do it,” he says. “That’s where we step in. We’re here to serve the Lord by serving people.”
The next Operation InAsMuch is scheduled for Saturday, October 11th. Reach out to David Faircloth or Mike Garrison for more information.
